6 LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 



have taken all knowledge to be my providence ;* and if I could 

 purge it of two sorts of rovers, whereof the one with frivol 

 ous disputations, confutations, and verbosities : the other 

 with blind experiments and auricular traditions and impos 

 tures, hath committed so many spoils; I hope I should bring 

 in industrious observations, grounded conclusions, and pro 

 fitable inventions and discoveries ; the best state of that 

 providence. 1 * This, whether it be curiosity, or vain glory, or 

 nature, or, if one take it favourably, pbilanthropia, is so 

 fixed in my mind, as it cannot be removed. And I do easily 

 see, that place of any reasonable countenance doth bring 

 commandment of more wits than of a man s own, which is 

 the thing I greatly affect, And for your lordship, perhaps 

 you shall not find more strength and less encounter in any 

 other. And if your lordship shall find now or at any time, 

 that I do seek or affect any place, whereunto any that is 

 nearer unto your lordship shall be concurrent, say then that 

 lam a most dishonest man. And if your lordship will not 

 carry me on, I will not do as Anaxagoras did, who reduced 

 himself with contemplation unto voluntary poverty: but this 

 I will do, I will sell the inheritance that I have, and pur 

 chase some lease of quick revenue, or some office of gain, 

 that shall be executed by deputy, and so give over all care 

 of service, and become some sorry book-maker, or a true 

 pioneer in that mine of truth, which, he said, lay so deep. 

 This which I have writ unto your lordship, is rather thoughts 

 than words, being set down without all art, disguising, or 

 reservation : wherein I have done honour both to your lord 

 ship s wisdom, in judging that that will be best believed of 

 your lordship which is truest; and to your lordship s good 

 nature, in retaining nothing from you. And even so, I wish 

 your lordship all happiness, and to myself means and occasion 

 to be added to my faithful desire to do you service. 



From my lodging at Gray s Inn. 

 * Province. 



